Charles H Duff biography

Text:
Charles H. Duff, a resident of this county for a length of time sufficient to give him a wide and extended acquaintance, was born in Cass county, Indiana, September 5, 1854, the son of David L. amd Mary (McBride) Duff, whose marriage was consummated January 8, 1851.  The former was born in Huntingdon county, Pa., December 19, 1821, his wife's birth occurring in Newark, N.J., May 14, 1830. Only one child beside Charles was given them, John A., born January 14, 1853, who died October 25, 1854. On leaving Indiana the family went to Nebraska, but one winter satisfied them there and in the spring a location was chosen in Anderson county, Kas., and that county continued to be their home from 1855 to 1868, a period of some thirteen years. On January 1, 1868, after another move they settled in this county, where Charles H. Duff now resides (in section 1). The latter in growing up was favored with good educational advantages and for four years he attended the Osage Mission school in Neosho county, Kas. Subsequently he was engaged in teaching school in Texas, and while thus occupied was married to Miss Madora Houts, daughter of William Houts and Emma, nee Poston, both natives of Missouri. Mrs. Duff died February 23, 1879, leaving one child, David L., born December 28, 1877. Mr. D. was again married January 7, 1886, when Mrs. Mary M. Jeffries became his wife, her birth having occurred December 31, 1862. She was the daughter of E.G. Jeffries, a sketch of whose life appears more prominently in another portion of this work. He is a respected citizen of this county, as is also his worthy wife. Mrs. Duff's grandfather, Elijah Jeffries, was a pioneer in North Missouri, where he was engaged for years in the ministry of the gospel. He was a man beloved by all who knew him, and his friends could hardly be numbered. The present landed estate of Mr. Duff embraces 120 acres, 40 of which are situated  in section 1, and 80 acres in section 3. This is well improved and thoroughly managed. his political preferences are with the Democratic party. He has been brought up as a Catholic.

 --Taken from History of Vernon County, Missouri 1887 pp 462-463, published by Brown & Company, St. Louis, Missouri.

David L Duff mention

A google search turned up David L Duff mentioned as a settler arriving in Anderson County, Kansas in the Spring of 1857. (Page 267 of The History of Anderson County from its first settlement to the Fourth of July 1876 by William A Johnson published in 1877 by Kaufmann & Iler.)

So the widows' pension said 1855, the book says 1857... somewhere in there they moved to Kansas and were there until about 1868. Still doesn't tell us why I can't find him in the 1870 census!

David L Duff (1821-1876)

David L Duff was born December 19, 1821 in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania the son of John Duff and Winifred Couch. (This is concluded because it is stated that their son David served in the Mexican war and our David Duff is the one from Pennsylvania in that war, proved by the widow pension application.)
David served in the Mexican War with Co. B, Reg 2, Pennsylvania Volunteers from Dec 26 1846 to Jul 21 1848. He entered as a private and was promoted to Sargeant Major before release. The widow's application for pension states he was a lawyer before entering the military. It also describes him as 5'9", 180 lbs, 25 years in age, light complexion, hazel eyes and auburn hair.(I cannot locate him in the 1850 census.)
He was married on 8 jan 1851 in Huntingdon, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania to Mary McBride by a justice of the peace named Goff.
He moved to Cass County Indiana in 1853 and had son named John A Duff on 14 jan 1853.
He had another son named Charles Hueston Duff on 5 sep 1854 in Cass Co., IN.
His son John A Duff died 25 oct 1854.
He moved to Anderson County, Kansas in 1855.

He is in the 1860 census in Reeder, Anderson Co., Kansas Territory, Roll M653_346 page 0 house 413. Real Estate valued at 1000, Personal Estate valued at 300. Farmer. 39 years old, listed as David L Duff. Wife Mary is 29, born in Ireland.
Son Charles is 6, born in Indiana. Neighbors are Means Jackson family and John Moles family. He moved to Portia, Vernon, Missouri in 1868.
(I Cannot find him in the 1870 census)

He died 11 mar 1876 in Vernon Co., Missouri, and is buried in Lefler Cemetery. Lefler Cemetery is in Bacon TWP - SE34-37-29 - Go 5 miles north of Dederick on Hwy. AA then ¾ miles east.

Sources:
Book: 1887 History of Vernon County, Missouri has an entry about his son Charles Hueston Duff.
Widow's pension application for Mexican war by wife Mary McBride Duff
1860 US Federal Census
Book: The Fort Revisited, p52 in Mifflin County Historical Society Library